Poon Lim, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Poon Lim

Chinese sailor of the British Merchant Navy

Date of Birth: 08-Mar-1918

Place of Birth: Hainan, China

Date of Death: 04-Jan-1991

Profession: sailor

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Poon Lim (Chinese: ? ?; pinyin: Pan Lián; 8 March 1918 – 4 January 1991) was a Chinese sailor who survived 133 days alone in the South Atlantic.Lim worked as second steward on SS Benlomond, a British merchant ship, when it was sunk by U-172, a German U-boat, on 23 November 1942.
He soon found an eight-foot (240 cm) wooden raft with supplies.
When the supplies ran low, Lin resorted to fishing, catching seabirds, and rain collection. On 5 April 1943, Lin was rescued by three Brazilian fishermen as he neared the coast of Brazil.
After his return to the United Kingdom, Lin was awarded a British Empire Medal by King George VI.
After the war, Lim emigrated to the United States.